United Blood Services awarding scholarships Thursday

United Blood Services will award 16 college scholarships at the 12th annual Celebration of Life Awards and Scholarship Banquet.

Approximately 9,100 units of blood were donated during the 2011-2012 school year by students in Clark County and neighboring school districts as part of the United Blood Services High School Challenge. More than 50 schools participated in 140 blood drives throughout the year. To say “thank you,” United Blood Services will award 16 scholarships at the 12th annual Celebration of Life Awards and Scholarship Banquet. Scholarships totaling $10,500 will be awarded based upon the number of blood units collected at each high school during the blood drives.

The banquet will be held at 11:30 a.m. May 24 at the Gold Coast, 4000 W. Flamingo Road.

Founded in 1963, United Blood Services of Las Vegas is a nonprofit organization that provides blood and blood products for hospitals in Southern Nevada, California and Northern Arizona. Visit unitedbloodservices.org for more information.